Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Typically, I'm not, because usually there's a little light of some kind around that helps us see a path we're on. I'll admit, though, while at my kids' home in Austin and I was staying at the guest house for a while....late at night when I walked between the two houses, I did get an eery feeling about a bobcat or another creature jumping out at me. LOL! Then on Monday morning when the electricity was completely out in their home and it was pitch black in the room and house, I did think about those who are seeing impaired and I had a new appreciation for their abilities and courage to live life so fully. I was thrilled I had my mini flashlight with me to help me navigate through the house.

I saw this photo online and tweaked it a little and made it my own as I thought about how the "darkness" was taking over way too many of my friends' lives. Their children are afraid to sleep without a light on in the room and another friend said she needed the TV going to get to sleep. I saw the shades pulled down in a friend's home. Seemed she was preferring the darkness. Each of these precious people, and perhaps, some of you, need to hear these words today. The darkness is afraid of your light and when your light shines brightly..... the darkness will run in fear.

I heard Australian speaker, Christine Caine, tell this story about her little girl. "When my daughter, Sophia Joyce, was very young, we were shopping at a Wal-Mart. We love America for your Wal-Marts! It’s the only place I know of where I can get a casserole and a flat-screen TV at 3:00 a.m. Sophie wanted a flashlight and had the perfect one picked out. Unfortunately Wal-Mart’s flourescent lighting doesn’t make for the best conditions to test out a flashlight. At the register, she was so excited to go home and try out her new little gadget. She said, “Come on, Mum! Let’s go find some darkness.” The lady at the register must have thought I was crazy. I was so excited about the insight of my little girl in that moment. I gave her the whole spiel. “Sophia, what you just said shows more spiritual maturity than most Christians ever reach. We will absolutely go find some darkness!”

And, that precious story speaks volumes about us and our lights. Often, we are so introspective about our fears, anxieties, and the darkness around us, that we fail to realize we don't have to stay there.....in that darkness. We can literally counterattack that darkness by turning on THE LIGHT within us, and when we do that -- we will shine so brightly that the darkness just can't stay. And, the best part? Not only will the darkness be dispeled in our lives...it will light up the world around us. So, as Christine told her little girl......let's go find some darkness and turn our LIGHTS on brightly and just see the change we'll make for ourselves and those around us today!

What is Your Little Light Shining?

Day 193 of Photo Inspirations -- What is Your Little Light Shining?
At my Life Group this week, we were discussing "letting our lights shine", when one of our gals mentioned that she had taken a course in college called "The Study of Lasers".  She went on to tell us that light travels in straight lines.  A laser produces light, but unless the laser light bounces off of something, you cannot see it.  The beam is invisible in normal air.  However, you can see the beam if there is something in the air, like smoke, that the light can bounce off of.  It takes time for our brains to understand what our eyes see.  Because of that, a fast moving laser beam spot will not look like a spot at all, but like a line of light.  That's AMAZING!

We had just talked about lighting a candle to dispel the darkness in our world.  Then she said, "There's a lot of difference between candlelight and laser light, and there are a lot of different lights in between:  incandescent, flourescent, halogen, LED.  She said, "Singing 'This little light of mine, I'm gonna' let it shine' sure takes on a whole new meaning with those thoughts.  Right?"

Different light sources have different purposes.  A soft candlelight brings calmness and sweet ambience to a room.  An incandescent light bulb is what Thomas Edison invented.  An electric current passes through the filament in the bulb, heating it to a temperature that produces light.  And, it can be dimmed or made brighter.  Then there's the flourescent light that gives a flat, cold light, often bluish and harsh. It is a daylight-equivalent and cannot be put on a dimmer. Then there are the LED -- Flood or Spotlights.  Those are the lights that cities are brilliantly lit up and it causes the evil lurkers to hide from them.  And, then there is the laser light.

I had an aha moment about the variations of light that we should consider since we are LIGHT bearers.  Unquestionably, there are times when we need to be soft candlelight that is calm, sensitive, and tender to those around us.  Other times, our light must be bold and bright to bring about clarity and illumination and eyes of understanding to be opened to the truth of God's love and Word.  Then there are times when our lights are flood and spot lights -- that dispel the darkness as we lift up He Who is the One deserving to be in the spotlight -- after all HE IS THAT LIGHT.  And then there is the LASER light that is the LASER Sword of "God's Word that is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires."  Hebrews 4:12

This aha moment spoke to me about the times when I need to regulate my "little light" and pay attention to which light I should be shining at any given time -- especially when sharing about Him.   Yes, now as I sing "This little light of mine, I'm gonna' let it shine" -- I'm going to consider "Do I need to turn up the dimmer switch or turn it down?"  Do I put away the harsh, cold light that is insensitive and makes others just want to stay away from my light?  And, what about pulling out my LASER Sword of God's Word?  Those decisions are best accomplished by checking in with THE LIGHT SOURCE -- He Who knows everything about everything will guide us and help us light the way for others to come to Him.